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A cross-cultural comparison of change detection in driving and non-driving scenes
Get PDFSome studies on change detection have reported cultural differences (though not consistently replicated), with participants from Western countries appearing more sensitive to focal changes and those from East Asian countries more sensitive to background changes. Such findings suggest possible cross-cultural differences in attentional style, however most previous studies have largely used abstract stimuli with changes that are inconsequential to the individual. By contrast, driving research indicates that people prioritise task- and safety-relevant changes, reflecting the influence of goal-directed attention. This study explored whether cross-cultural differences in change detection would emerge within a driving context. UK and Malaysian drivers viewed change blindness stimuli from a driver's perspective. No cultural differences were observed, but safety relevance strongly influenced detection. Study 2 compared driving and non-driving stimuli to assess whether safety relevance overshadowed cultural effects. Again, safety relevance had a strong impact, but cultural differences were absent. These findings suggest that cross-cultural results from abstract tasks may not generalise to real-world contexts, where goal-directed priorities appear to dominante responses in change detection
Refining CO₂ Infiltration Models for Pipeline Release Scenarios
Get PDFAccurate modelling of carbon dioxide (CO2) dispersion and infiltration into buildings is essential for assessing the risks associated with accidental releases from carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) infrastructure. This study presents an integrated analytical and computational framework for evaluating CO2 infiltration, incorporating a modified equation of state (EOS) to account for non-ideal gas behaviour. The original infiltration model, based on wind- and buoyancy-driven ventilation, is extended using a virial EOS. Key performance metrics are used to validate the model against experimental data and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. A comprehensive set of 30 case studies is used to assess model performance across a range of building geometries and environmental conditions. Results show that the modified EOS has minimal impact on far-field predictions, confirming the robustness of the ideal gas assumption under ambient conditions. Importantly, the study finds that CO2 impurities do not significantly affect far-field dispersion once ambient pressure is reached, though they may influence near-field behaviour at the release point
A randomised SWAT assessing the impact of an enhanced patient information leaflet on recruitment in a trial of axillary treatment for early-stage breast cancer [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
Get PDFBackgroundA study within a trial (SWAT) can be used to compare the effectiveness of various recruitment aids. In this SWAT, we assessed the impact of incorporating a pictorial aid into an enhanced Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) versus utilising a standard PIL, nested within a trial comparing adjuvant therapy alone with adjuvant therapy plus axillary treatment for women with early-stage breast cancer with metastases in one or two sentinel nodes (the POSNOC trial).MethodsThe pictorial aid was designed to illustrate the treatment procedures in both arms of the POSNOC trial for potential participants. POSNOC recruiting sites were cluster randomised to provide potentially eligible women who were approached about taking part in the study with either the enhanced PIL or the standard PIL. Allocation was stratified by recruitment activity in the 12 months preceding the SWAT.ResultsEighty sites participated in the SWAT, with 40 randomised to each arm. Between December 2019 and July 2021, 258 participants were recruited. The enhanced PIL group recruited 117 participants (mean = 2.9 per site) while the standard PIL sites recruited 141 participants (mean = 3.5 per site). There was no evidence of a between-group difference in recruitment (adjusted difference in mean in enhanced vs standard PIL = -0.68, 95% CI -1.99 to 0.63, p=0.31).ConclusionThe study found no evidence that an enhanced PIL increased recruitment compared with the standard PIL. These data may contribute to future systematic reviews of randomised studies of recruitment interventions
XRISM Constraints on Unidentified X-Ray Emission Lines, Including the 3.5 keV Line, in the Stacked Spectrum of 10 Galaxy Clusters
No full textWe stack 3.75 Ms of early XRISM Resolve observations of 10 galaxy clusters to search for unidentified spectral lines in the E = 2.5–15 keV band (rest frame), including the E = 3.5 keV line reported in earlier low spectral resolution studies of cluster samples. Such an emission line may originate from the decay of the sterile neutrino, a warm dark matter (DM) candidate. No unidentified lines are detected in our stacked cluster spectrum, with the 3σ upper limit on the ms ∼ 7.1 keV DM particle decay rate (which corresponds to an E = 3.55 keV emission line) of Γ ∼ 1.0 × 10−27 s−1. This upper limit is 3–4 times lower than the one derived by Hitomi Collaboration from the Perseus observation but still 5 times higher than the XMM-Newton detection reported by E. Bulbul et al. in the stacked cluster sample. XRISM Resolve, with its high spectral resolution but small field of view, may reach the sensitivity needed to test the XMM-Newton cluster sample detection by combining several years worth of future cluster observations
The role of extended audit reports in enhancing goodwill impairment recognition: evidence from UK firms
Get PDFPurpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the extended audit report (EAR) on the recognition and timeliness of goodwill impairment in the UK. Specifically, this study explores whether EAR adoption enhances financial reporting quality by improving the alignment between impairment recognition and firms’ underlying performance, especially when goodwill impairment is identified as a key audit matter (KAM). Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on agency and accountability theories, this study analyses 1, 451 firm-year observations from 347 non-financial UK companies listed on the FTSE All Shares index over a three-year period around EAR adoption. Tobit, Logit, Balanced Matching and OLS regression techniques are used to test the hypotheses, with fixed effects and extensive robustness checks addressing concerns related to endogeneity, measurement validity and model specification. Findings – The findings of this study show that EAR adoption significantly improves the timeliness of goodwill impairment recognition by strengthening the association between poor firm performance and reported impairments. This relationship is further amplified when goodwill impairment is flagged as a KAM, particularly in cases where auditors perceive it as a high-risk issue. In contrast, the volume of disclosure does not appear to enhance recognition, suggesting that disclosure quality and perceived risk matter more than disclosure length. Practical implications – The results of this study underscore the role of EAR as an accountability mechanism that enhances auditor scrutiny and constrains managerial discretion in high-risk, judgment-intensive areas. Regulators and standard setters may consider encouraging more targeted, risk-based disclosures to strengthen audit effectiveness. Companies and auditors should also recognise the behavioural impact of KAM disclosures on managerial reporting incentives. Originality/value – This study contributes new archival evidence on how EARs influence auditor and managerial behaviour in the context of goodwill impairment. By integrating agency and accountability theories and focusing on a complex reporting area, this study refines understanding of how expanded audit disclosures improve financial reporting outcomes and mitigate agency conflicts
Oesophageal cancer multi-disciplinary tool: a co-designed, externally validated, machine learning tool for oesophageal cancer decision making
Get PDFBackground: The oesophageal cancer (OC) multi-disciplinary team (MDT) operates under significant pressures, handling complex decision-making. Machine learning (ML) can learn complex decision-making paradigms to improve efficiency, consistency, and cost if trained and deployed responsibly. We present an externally validated ML-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) designed to predict OC MDT treatment decisions and prognosticate palliative scenarios, co-designed using Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles. Methods: Clinicopathological data collected from 1931 patients between 4th September 2009, and 8th November 2022 were used to test and validate models trained through four ML algorithms to predict curative and palliative treatment pathways along with palliative prognosis. 953 OC cases treated at University Hospitals Southampton (UHS) were used to train ML models which were externally validated on 978 OC cases from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH). Model performance was evaluated using Area Under Curve (AUC) for treatment classifiers and calibration curves for survival models. A parallel RRI program at the University of Southampton (United Kingdom) combining clinician interviews and inter-disciplinary workshops was conducted between 16.3.23 and 23.5.24. The RRI program comprised a group of 17 domain experts comprising programmers, computer scientists, clinicians and patient representatives to allow end-users to contribute towards the co-design of the CDSS user interface. Findings: Cohorts differed in baseline characteristics, with the external cohort (OUH) being younger, having better performance status, and a higher prevalence of pulmonary and vascular disease. Despite these differences, on internal validation (UHS cohort) mean AUCs for the primary treatment model were: MLR 0.905 ± 0.048, XGB 0.909 ± 0.044 and RF 0.883 ± 0.059 (k = 5 cross-validation) and MLR 0.866 (95% CI 0.866–0.867), XGB 0.863 (0.862–0.864), RF 0.863 (0.867–0.868) on bootstrapped resampling. For the palliative classifier, mean AUCs were: MLR 0.805 ± 0.096, XGB 0.815 ± 0.081 and RF 0.793 ± 0.083 (k = 5 cross-validation) and MLR 0.736 (95% CI 0.734–0.737), XGB 0.799 (0.798–0.800), RF 0.781 (0.778–0.782) on bootstrapped resampling. On external validation (OUH cohort), AUCs were MLR 0.894, XGB 0.887 and RF 0.891 for the primary treatment model and MLR 0.711, XGB 0.742 and RF 0.730 for the palliative treatment classifier. Predicted survival probability from the palliative survival model was well calibrated over the first 12 months post-diagnosis in both cohorts. The RRI program provided a collaborative environment leading to valuable modifications to the CDSS including prediction explanations, visual aids for survival and integrated education for users producing a user-friendly and quick to use tool. Interpretation: We present a novel, responsibly developed, externally validated AI CDSS trained to predict oesophageal cancer MDT decisions. It represents the foundations of a transformative application of ML, personalised, consistent and efficient MDT decision-support within OC which aligns to RRI principles. Funding: Doctoral Studentship for NT (Institute for Life Sciences (University of Southampton) & University Hospital Southampton), UKRI TAS Pump-Priming Grant (TAS_PP_00167)
Screening of modular supramolecular star polymers for 3D printing of biomedical devices
Get PDFIdentifying suitable materials for additive manufacturing and 3D printing is a challenging task and there is a need to streamline the processes to achieve more rapid adoption of new feedstocks. We have developed a process of using modular supramolecular polymers where individual moieties can be modified in order to achieve a variance in properties. We synthesised a library of 64 polymers and performed a systematic sequence of screening steps to identify preferred candidates for an exemplar printing modality and application. The library was screened for materials amenable to inkjet based 3D printing, then refined to those that had mechanical and biological performance suitable for use in articular cartilage repair, and supported chondrocyte growth. The lead candidate was fabricated into macroscopic architectures with intricate designs, including structure of knee cartilage as a demonstrator of potential application. This strategy for screening materials for specific applications could accelerate the translation of new materials for additive manufacture of novel devices
Redox-responsive micellar-like nanoparticles can overcome intrinsic multi-drug resistance in tumour spheroids of triple negative breast cancer
Get PDFTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most difficult subtypes of breast cancer to treat, due its aggressiveness, high heterogeneity and lack of targeted therapies. Efforts have been made to elucidate the mechanisms by which TNBC cells become drug-resistant, aiming to identify new molecular targets for the development of effective treatments. Here, we have generated a TNBC 3D multi-cellular spheroid model using MDA-MB-231 cells and assessed the efficacy of drug delivery formulations based on docetaxel (DTX)-loaded micellar-like nanoparticles (MLNP) compared with free DTX. We assessed the viability and the induction of apoptosis in the treated spheroids using established apoptosis and necrosis biomarkers: annexin-V, PI, Sytox and caspase 3 and 7 activity by flow cytometry. Given the efficacy results of the MLNPs and free DTX, the expression of selected genes related to resistance in breast cancer cells was assessed by RT-qPCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) as well as western blot and immunofluorescence of the drug resistance protein (ABCG2/BCRP) in both 3D and 2D cell culture models of MDA-MB-231 cells. The results from these assays indicate that the TNBC 3D multi-cellular spheroids exhibit an intrinsic multi-drug resistance (MDR) through the up-regulation of ABCG2/BCRP gene and protein, compared to monolayers of the same cell line. Moreover, the results also demonstrate that the MLNPs had the best efficacy against TNBC 3D spheroids whereas the free drug was less efficacious. This suggests that the MLNPs were able to overcome the MDR of the TNBC 3D cell culture model when compared to free DTX
Immunohistochemical and Histomorphometric Related Small Intestine Changes Associated With Sodium Butyrate Supplement in Chickens
Get PDFThis study evaluated the effects of sodium butyrate (SB) supplementation on small intestine development in broiler chickens. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and immunohistochemistry were used to undertake histological examinations of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum histomorphometric data (villus length, crypt depth, goblet cell count), and interleukin-22 (IL-22) and toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) immuno-stained area tissue coverage were quantified in control and SB supplemented groups. The histological changes in the SB supplemented group compared to the control group were as follows: There were increased villi lengths, widths, and crypt depths in the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum). Increased numbers of goblet cells were observed, especially in the ileum. In addition, the lymphoid tissue within the small intestine was significantly larger (cross-section area=SB 34.8±0.5m2 vs control 13.2±0.5m2) and presented with more lymphoid nodules and more diffuse lymphoid tissue in the tunica submucosa, in the SB supplemented group compared to controls. Chickens do not have lymph nodes, therefore the mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue plays a major immunological role. Significant immunohistochemistry expression of IL-22 and TLR8 proteins were observed in the intestinal epithelial layer of the small intestine, which may play a role in protecting against many pathogens and gastrointestinal cancer
Gene Therapy Using Plasmid DNA Encoding Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 164 Genes for the Treatment of Equine Proximal Suspensory Desmitis: Case Reports
Get PDFInjury to the proximal part of the equine suspensory ligament (SL), called proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD), commonly causes lameness in horses. PSD is extremely difficult to manage and treat, with present methods often unable to achieve full recovery, especially in chronic cases. The present study was the first to use gene therapy to restore moderate and severe injuries of the proximal suspensory ligament in horses. Plasmid DNA encoding species specific bone morphogenetic protein 2 (bmp2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf164) was injected into the site of proximal suspensory ligament injury, followed by box rest and a controlled exercise program. Clinical observations and ultrasound imaging were used to evaluate effectiveness over a period of 12 months. No negative side effects were observed. Clinical improvements were observed, especially in the forelimb affected horses, by day 30. In horses with chronic hindlimb PSD, few clinical improvements were reported. Echogenicity and the fiber alignment scoring improved but no concomitant changes to cross section area, dorsopalmar thickness or lateromedial width of the proximal suspensory ligament were observed. The transfer of bmp2 and vegf164 genes into the equine PSL exhibited beneficial effects in horses with acute or subacute forms of lesions, primarily in the forelimb
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